Close, but No Cigar.

Mary Beth-

      This was my second time reading "Freud, the Feminist?" by Suzanne Brown. Yet, the second time around, I discovered that I had more of an appreciation for Freud than the first.
      The first time I read the article was in my freshman LC. I knew very little about Freud, other than the fact that he was a prominent psychoanalyst. I was not familiar with his theories, his ideology, or his literature. Thus, back then, the article did not strike me as it does now. Now that I have familiarized myself with his writing, specifically, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, and Civilization and it's Discontents, I now understand the reasoning behind Brown's article.
         I believe it is ignorant to say that none of Freud's ideas were antifeminist. I would love for someone to explain to me how "penis envy"is not at least slightly insulting to the female sex. Thus, I am not surprised that someone (Brown) would go about refuting Freud's anti-feminism. She does so eloquently, posing a number of points that make the reader not only believe Freud was an understanding and superb psychoanalyst, but that he was actually on the opposite side of the spectrum; a feminist.
      I must say, Brown did a great job of convincing me. She makes the argument that many times, the historical and cultural context of the time period in which Freud was working is not considered when accusing him of being antifeminist. One must realize that culturally, women had very little independence or sexual freedom at all. They were described as "tools for men, creating their children, maintaining their homes, and providing sexual release when necessary." Thus, even for Freud to have treated women and furthermore, to have treated them with such respect and understanding, vouches for him.
           Of one patient, Frau Emmy, Freud writes, "the moral seriousness with which she viewed her duties, her intelligence and energy, which were no less than a man's, and her high degree of education and love of truth impressed us both greatly." This goes to show how Freud advocated for women even during the ages that they were repressed. The mere fact that he is comparing the woman to a male in terms of respectable qualities goes to show that the cultural climate was much different from today's. Yet, even so, he tried to use that cultural climate to his female patient's advantage, advocating for their equality.
      But still, remembering not to forget his other seemingly antifeminist theories and accusations, I am not so sure if I am convinced Freud was a feminist. Yet, I do believe that he did sincerely take interest and concern in the welfare of his female patients and acted on their behalf as a therapist.